Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-05-20
COMMUNICATIONS.
elter from ArkanSa
PRAIRIE GROVE, Washington

PRAIRIE GROVE, Washington
Co., Ark, May IL, 1887.
EDS CIrozEN:-I left Butler coun-
ty. Pa, on Tuesday morning, April
g6, 1887, and l shall give short dis
cription OF the country | Travelled
through, in order to save writing TO
all who asked me to write, without
ever thinking what a contract 1t
would be 20 write to so many.
After leaving the State of Penn
sylvania we came 20 Ohio, which Is
somewhat ahead of Pennsylvania in
farming as the land is more level and
not so hard to work, but the wheat Is
no farther on, and no better that 1t IS
in Pennsylvania. We changed cars
in Toledo at 1910 am, taking the
Wabash for st. Louis and by day
break we were in the swamps OF
eastern Indiana.
But after leaving the swamps we
came to country, not only noted for
its prairies, but for its productiveness
Next we came to the State Of Him
ois, a country which excells any yet
explored by US. Here the wheat
looked quite different, and the fields
ten times larger than we generally
see in old Butler county, and L THINK
if some of the farmers in Butler
county were in Illinois they. would
never return, for they do not work
their corn there with q one horse cul-
tivator.
Farmers of Butler county, think OF
one man having two cribs OF corn
100 to 200 feet long, 8 to 10 feet
wide and 10 to II feet high. This OF
course was in the spring OF the year.
and in the fall they would haye 4 or
5 times as much, and by all appear
ance they will harvest large crop
this year.
We arrived at St. Louis just at
dusk, and by morning we were at
Springfield, Missouri.
From there to Pierce City Is some
of the toughest land | ever looked
upon, especially on the Iron Noun
tains, but saw some very fine land
in this State, as we'll as rough. After
leaving Pierce City and coming 10
milesthrough and over the Flint Noun
tains. arrived at Fayetteville, the
county seat of Washington county,
Arkansas.
This is a town of near 800 inhab-
itants, and very thrifty, wide-awake
village.
But I think there could be some
improvements maoe, as there Is not
one good pavement in the town. This
YOU can find all throu gh the State
have seen men living in little log
houses, the ones they have been iv-
ing in for twenty years, and have
money at interest. AT Fayetteville
I took the stage for Prairie Grove, 10
miles south.
This little village is situated in
beautiful grove of walnut and locust.
1t has one very good school, which is
the only school for three miles
around. This is one branch of civil
lization 1 think the people of the
south are neglecting.
There is an excellent college at
Fayetteville, but in the country the
schools are three miles apart, and IN
MANY places 8 or TO- In but one
thing Arkansas takes the lead, and
that in the fruit. Peaches will be
ready for market by the middle OF
June, and in the southern part by the
first. Apples .,are plenty and of
good quality, and now are as large as
hickory nuts. The Strawberries are
ripe and gone. Corn is knee high in
some parts and the wheat is all in
head and in blossom. Some may
think there is not wheat raised in Ar
kansas, but around Prairie Grove |
can see fields of wheat containing
fifty acres which will produce 30
bushel to the acre.
Ten miles southeast are the Boston
Mountains, abounding with deer and
turkey, and 8 miles west is the Ma,
ton Line. But l will not detain you
longer.
] will be found elsewhere.
E. l., ENGLISH.